An Investigation on English Listening Strategies Use of English Majors1.doc

An Investigation on English Listening Strategies Use of English Majors Abstract: This paper employed English Learning Strategies Road to Success to make a survey on listening strategies of English majors from college of foreign languages in Hainan Normal University. The findings of the study indicate that the learning strategies used most frequently by English majors are effective inferences taking strategies, effective notes taking strategies and pronunciation and Intonations helping strategies.Key words: listening strategy; English majors; strategies 1. Introduction The survey aims at the listening strategies of English majors. Among listening, speaking, reading, writing skills, many students complain that listening is the most different one, even for English majors. Thus, this formulated the writer to do the survey to learn the strategies use of them. With related previous studies as guidance, the writer conducted a survey on the English listening strategies, expecting to find out the following problems:1) What is the frequency of listening strategies used by English majors?2) What are the sparing listening strategies used by English majors?2.1 Subjects The participants of this study were 15 English majors from college of foreign languages in Hainan Normal University.Table 1: The Subjects2.2 Instrument and Procedure This survey is to find out the English listening situation of English majors. There are 20 items in the questionnaire which uses a 5-point scale (1=never to 5=always). The questionnaire was discussed by 7 group members. And then they chose 20 important questions to survey 15 English majors. The survey and the requirements were required by the group members in the classroom. Students were assured that they could not be identified through their questionnaire forms, so they could offer truer information without worry. Therefore the data collected were more reliable. Having collected the completed questionnaire forms, the writer calculated the data by hand.3. Results and Discussion3.1 ResultsTable: Strategies MeanReal-life listening 2.2Media listening2.25Pronunciation and Intonations helping3Background informations helping2.55Effective notes taking3.3Effective inferences taking 3.58The table indicates the frequency of strategies used by English majors. According to the means, the frequency order of learning strategy use is: Effective inferences strategies, with a mean of 3.58, effective notes taking strategies, 3.3, pronunciation and intonations helping strategies, 3., Background informations helping strategies, 2.55, media listening strategies, 2.25 and real-life listening strategies, 2.2. On the whole, the processing listening strategies are more frequently employed than the preparing listening strategies. 3.2 Discussion3.21 Frequency of learning strategies used by English majors3.211 Effective inferences taking strategies Results of the study show that effective inferences taking strategies are most frequently used by English majors. According to English learning strategies, effective inferences taking strategies, one of strategies needed in comprehensive listening, play an important role in English listening. Drawing useful inference is not only a good way to do well in exams, but also contributes to the comprehension of extracurricular listening.3.212 Effective notes taking strategies According to the table, it is easily found that many English majors are good note takers. The most important reason is that these strategies are usually trained in the classroom learning with the help of teachers. Further, these strategies are good habits that English majors should develop. In the English Learning Strategies Road to Success, the writer emphasized note taking helps us concentrate on the message and store more information. Catching the main points and important aspects are indispensable in listening compensation, which helps us understand English better. 3.213 Pronunciation and Intonations helping strategies Many people believe listening just listening; however, listening is related to speaking As English majors, pronunciation and intonation are the keys to learn speaking well, namely, listening also connects to these keys. The first step in listening, that is, catching the sounds we want to hear. Thus, for language students, incomplete plosion, sound linking, rhythm, syllable number, word stress, contrastive length, contrastive clarity and intonation are very necessary skills. Usually, different word stress and different sentence stress can indicate different meanings.3.22 Sparing use of Strategies3.221 Media listening With the development of economic, traditional learning strategies cannot satisfy students study any more. However, many students do not prefer these strategies with the analysis of the data. Actually, many people find listening English songs improves students listening. And it can help students remember many useful expressions for a long time. In addition, watching TV programs gives an excellent chance to get familiar with the world. English movies are available source to learn listening and culture. As to the sparing use of English majors, it should be considered a serious learning neglect ion. 3.222 Real-life listening Why so many students cannot understand English native speakers? From the writers survey, real-life listening is big problem for students. 4. ConclusionsThe author noted that English listening strategies have been paid much attention for English majors. In this study, the author attempted to find out the general situations of listening strategies used by English majors. The results of the study can be concluded as follows:First, English majors pay much attention to the processing strategies. Thus, effective inferences taking strategies, effective notes taking strategies and pronunciation and Intonations helping strategies are attached importance for students. Second, sparing strategies are preparing strategies, such as media strategies and real-life listening strategies.The findings are beneficial for English teaching and students self improvement. Firstly, teachers should conduct students to attach importance to the media listening and real-life listening. Excepting the traditional listening, English songs and movies are available for them to stimulate students interest and improve their listening. Secondly, students can realize what they should improve through the survey. Listening is not just listening .It connects to other aspects, such as background information and pronunciation. These success cannot be achieved in one day, namely, it depends on long terms study. Therefore, students need to learn and observe the surroundings consciously. Bibliography:1 英语学习策略：成功之路北京：高等教育出版社，20072外语自主学习理论与实践；上海外语教育出版社，2002